Is my tank ready for a pair of pups?

[jeffers]

they mite be getting use to bare bottom but i think the spike occured because of the feed. also make sure you scoop out what they dont eat after a little bit. and the hump is a good sign. but im not sure about what you mean by they sneeze. but they will climb the walls and go up and down and what not.

 

[sam buckle]

dont worry about the pellets you can get them on pellets later.
Earthworms , prawns, just always cut things up so they are small enough for their mouths.
also like jeffers said remove anything not eaten.

they are healthy looking rays and full bodied so you can just feed a small amount twice a day till the tank is cycled. you dont to pack them full all the time.

about the behaviour the sneeze and shake .
they do this sometimes after changing conditions cause them to produce more mucus and this movement is to shake of excess mucus.
What water conditioner did you use to remove chlorine?
i have noticed my rays react like you mentioned when the carbon in my water filter was exhausted and chlorine was getting through.
Also did you add anything else?

dont panic though as you seem to being doing everything right.

 

[waymoz]

dont worry about the pellets you can get them on pellets later.
Earthworms , prawns, just always cut things up so they are small enough for their mouths.
also like jeffers said remove anything not eaten.

they are healthy looking rays and full bodied so you can just feed a small amount twice a day till the tank is cycled. you dont to pack them full all the time.

about the behaviour the sneeze and shake .
they do this sometimes after changing conditions cause them to produce more mucus and this movement is to shake of excess mucus.
What water conditioner did you use to remove chlorine?
i have noticed my rays react like you mentioned when the carbon in my water filter was exhausted and chlorine was getting through.
Also did you add anything else?

dont panic though as you seem to being doing everything right.

ok today i just fed them til they stopped eating then took out all the left over food. i guess i'll feed them again later tonight and test the water again. i'll feed less this time too. an indicator of their health is how thick the base of their tails are yeah?

also the sneezing/shaking must've been because of what you mentioned, the changing conditions. when i do water changes i use this product, http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/catalogue_products.php?prodID=3201 to dechlorinate, and seachem stability to help with the tank cycle. maybe i should stop using stability??

it was a bit of a worry when they stopped moving and just stayed in one spot. i figured it's like how i feel like sleeping after eating a lot and now they're back to being active and they swim up and down the front and back of the tank.

 

[sam buckle]

if they react like that again on the next water change, try using a different brand of dechlorinator as that one does more than just that. it should be fine but have never come across that before. also leave out the seachem to see if they dont react.

you are right about the resting aftr eating. just keep an eye on your nitrItes as well as the ammonia as like i said before they will spike quite high and you will need to keep that down.

sorry for the short answer but am at work.

 

[waymoz]

if they react like that again on the next water change, try using a different brand of dechlorinator as that one does more than just that. it should be fine but have never come across that before. also leave out the seachem to see if they dont react.

you are right about the resting aftr eating. just keep an eye on your nitrItes as well as the ammonia as like i said before they will spike quite high and you will need to keep that down.

sorry for the short answer but am at work.

thanks for the help. i read a few things about using non-iodized table salt to help reduce the effects of nitrites should they spike. so if nitrites do spike im prepared to do a water change and dose some salt.

the bottoms of the rays are looking very white as well, the pink is only very faint so i take it they're doing very well, with no ammonia burn so far.

 

[PeteLockwood]

i read a few things about using non-iodized table salt to help reduce the effects of nitrites should they spike. so if nitrites do spike im prepared to do a water change and dose some salt.

I'd posted as much above. For your tank size 2 teaspoons will be sufficient and iodized is OK too if that's what you have around. You can add it before you see the nitrIte spike as it won't stop the bacteria building - and will protect the rays from even the smallest amount of nitrIte that you won't immediately be able to measure.

Just replace salt in proportion to the amount of water you take out during a change so if you change 1/2 the tank put back in 1 teaspoon. Very cheap insurance policy.

 

[waymoz]

I'd posted as much above. For your tank size 2 teaspoons will be sufficient and iodized is OK too if that's what you have around. You can add it before you see the nitrIte spike as it won't stop the bacteria building - and will protect the rays from even the smallest amount of nitrIte that you won't immediately be able to measure.

Just replace salt in proportion to the amount of water you take out during a change so if you change 1/2 the tank put back in 1 teaspoon. Very cheap insurance policy.

sweet thanks for the info. im pretty confident i'll get my rays through the cycle very easily if i can keep on top of tank maintenance while it's cycling.

 

[waymoz]

Okay just did my second feeding, did a water check with:
Ammonia - 0.50ppm
Nitrites - 0ppm
Nitrate - 0ppm

Did a 30% water change and got ammonia back down to near 0. Got classes soon, so as soon as I'm back in the evening I'll do another small feeding and water check/change.

Also this time I left the water change a little delayed after feeding, to see if they still do the shake/stomp movement and it is from feeding! After they eat maybe 10-20 minutes they start doing this shake/stomp thing and then just rest without moving for awhile. I'll try and capture it on film tonight after I feed. very interesting behaviour, my guess is that it's trying to help move food down the system and digest better or push some poop out. I haven't seen them poop yet and they're still looking very healthy and meaty.

 

[ShadowStryder]

If they are shaking after or during feeding its probably trying to work the food down. My flower
does the shaking sometimes while she is eating to large of a night crawlers. At least that is how I
interpret it as she doesn't do it at any other point.

 

[MonsterMinis]

Try feeding smaller pieces, my fire eels do a similar behavior if they get a hold of a larger then average sized worm during feeding, and shortly afterward.